Consolidate, preserve and build: a tutor training program for a new school

Abstract

In 1994, a collaborative research project began between the Faculty of Education and the Departments of Sojiware Development and Computer Science. The research was aimed at improving the teaching and learning of introductory programming. Results shwed that ~lze ~jor learning of students took place in a tutorial setting. One of the outcomes of the project was a tutor training program to foster teaching skills in mostly untrained teaching staff. The maining program continued with education faculty members’ invoh’ement until 1997, being run separately and modified independently by the two departinents. At the beginning of 1996’, a new School wasforrned, amalgamating the Departments of Sofivare Development, Computer Science and two orher departments. The tutor training program at Ibis time was revised and delivered, independently of education facuhy assistance. It was a consolidation of the two separate programs, preserving the best featuresfiom both, to promote teaching skills within those at the j70nt line of student contact. The purpose of this paper is to describe the revised training course, evaluate it and suggest improvements to build upon its strengths.